Ottawa Raiders 2000 Preview

Raiders search for scoring touch

Entering their third season in the NWHL (fourth as a team), the Ottawa Raiders' strength is their defense.

Led by the solid goaltending of Marie-France Morin, the Raiders were stingy in goals against last year. Of the nine teams in the league, they were ranked sixth. Morin lead with a 2.94 GAA but sported an unimpressive 4-13-4 record.

The Orleans, Ont., native was was invited to the Canadian national team's tryout camp in Caledon, Ont. She was with the Canadian national team at 1999 Three Nations Cup, held late in 1999 in Montreal. She finally faced some action on the international level for Canada, losing an exhibition game in Buffalo just before the NHL All-Star game.

But the one thing lacking for the Raiders is scoring. The team was ranked seventh in scoring last season, averaging less than two goals a game.

The top three threats this year are Dana Avery, Isabelle Aube and Nadine Bourdeau. All three combined for 50 points for the Raiders, and team president Mel Avery is looking for the team to break out this year.

Last season, the Raiders lost in the East Division semi-final to the Laval Mistral. But during the provincial championships in Kitchener, the team placed a respectable fourth, almost knocking off the Mississauga Chiefs in the bronze medal game.

This year's team has some new faces to go with other team veterans Avery, Aube, Bordeau, Marie France Ethier, Lyne Landry anb Brenda Charlebois.

Coaching the team this year is Doug Rollins, Marc Latreille, Joel Yates and Sylvie Renaud.